Law and Justice - Spanish Vocabulary
Learn Spanish vocabulary related to law and justice. Explore terms used in the legal system, courts, crimes, and more.
estar en libertad provisional
to be on provisional release
The phrase 'estar en libertad provisional' in Spanish translates to 'to be on provisional release' in English. This phrase is typically used in legal context and refers to a situation where a person is given temporary freedom until their next court appearance or until the trial is over. This might occur if the person arrested can provide assurance, usually financial, that they will show up in court and not leave the area. Thus, they are allowed certain freedom under temporary basis.
Example sentences with estar en libertad provisional →estar en libertad vigilada
being on probation
The Spanish phrase 'estar en libertad vigilada' translates to 'being on probation' in English. Probation is a legal term referring to the status of a person who is conditionally released into the community by the courts, typically under supervision, after serving time in prison. In this circumstance, the individual is expected to follow certain restrictions and is subject to periodic check-ins with probation officers to ensure compliance.
Example sentences with estar en libertad vigilada →estar fichado (por la policía)
to be booked (by police)
The Spanish term 'estar fichado (por la policía)' translates to 'to be booked (by the police)' in English. This means that a person's information has been formally recorded by law enforcement authorities, usually after being arrested. Note that this term is used in the context of legal or police matters.
extorsión
extortion
The Spanish word 'extorsión' translates to 'extortion' in English. 'Extorsión' is a noun often used in legal and crime contexts, and it refers to the act of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats. It originates from the Latin word 'extorsionem', meaning a twisting out or turning. Just like in English, it is often associated with criminal activities where people are forced to give up their possessions under pressure or threat.
Example sentences with extorsión →falsificación
forgery
The word 'falsificación' in Spanish translates to 'forgery' in English. Forgery is a process that refers to the act of falsely making or altering a document with the intent to defraud or deceive. It can be associated with signing someone else's name to a document without their consent or authorization, making a fake ID card, creating fake certifications, or even producing counterfeit money. Therefore, 'falsificación' can be used in various contexts in Spanish language where the concept of forgery or unlawful copying is involved.
Example sentences with falsificación →firmar una declaración
sign a statement
The Spanish phrase 'firmar una declaración' can be translated to English as 'sign a statement'. In a legal or formal context, this refers to the act of putting one's signature on a written assertion, document, or paperwork, typically to confirm its accuracy or accept its terms. In other words, if you are asked to 'firmar una declaración', you are being asked to endorse a written document by adding your personal signature to it.
fraude
fraud
The Spanish word 'fraude' translates to 'fraud' in English. It is a noun that describes the act of intentionally deceiving someone for personal gain or to damage another individual. Examples of fraud include, but are not limited to, identity theft, forgery, false representation, and the concealment of information. In both Spanish and English, 'fraude' or 'fraud' carries with it a legal and moral implication of dishonesty and deception.
Example sentences with fraude →fuerzas de seguridad
security forces
The Spanish term 'fuerzas de seguridad' translates to 'security forces' in English. This can refer to any organization that enforces laws, regulates public behavior, prevents and combats crimes. It's collectively used for entities such as the police, security guards, or military personnel. Generally, these forces have the authority, by law, to maintain peace and order in society and protect life and property of people.
fuerzas del orden
law enforcement
The phrase 'fuerzas del orden' in Spanish translates as 'law enforcement' in English. It's used to refer to any organization or entities (such as the police, the FBI, etc) that are responsible for maintaining peace and enforcing the law. This term encompasses all such agencies or groups that have the authority to enforce laws, both at a local and national level. Depending on the context, these 'fuerzas del orden' could include police, military police, or any other type of security forces.
ganar un juicio
win a trial
The Spanish phrase 'ganar un juicio' translates to 'win a trial' in English. It is a legal term often used in courts or legal proceedings. 'Ganar' is a verb in Spanish that means 'to win', whilst 'un juicio' is a noun that refers to a 'trial' or 'lawsuit'. Therefore, when these words are combined, it describes the act or process of succeeding in a legal case or court trial.
Example sentences with ganar un juicio →grupo terrorista
terrorist group
The Spanish term 'grupo terrorista' translates to 'terrorist group' in English. A terrorist group refers to a political group that employs violent measures and intimidation in pursuit of a particular aim. These groups pose a global threat and their activities can have international ramifications, leading to tragic loss of life, substantial damage to properties, and compromising national security. Please note that this is a general explanation, actual definitions could vary based on contextual usage.
Example sentences with grupo terrorista →hacer una declaración
make a statement
The Spanish phrase 'hacer una declaración' translates to 'make a statement' in English. It is commonly used in situations where one expresses an opinion or a fact clearly and publicly. This could be used in legal situations where one may 'make a statement' to the police or in everyday conversations where one might 'make a statement' about a particular topic or event.
huella
fingerprint
The Spanish word 'huella' translates to 'fingerprint' in English. This term often refers to the unique, tiny, detailed traits left behind from the friction ridges of a human finger. It's primarily used in forensic sciences and identification processes. It's not only limited to the human context, but 'huella' could also be used to describe traces or footprints left by any object or creature.
hurto
theft
The Spanish word 'hurto' translates to 'theft' in English. It is a noun that refers to the act of stealing another person's possessions or property without their consent and typically without their knowledge. The term usually implies a stealthy or deceitful action, where the person committing the theft takes something without the owner noticing at the time. It is a criminal act punishable by law.
Example sentences with hurto →injuria
to insult
The Spanish word 'injuria' translates to 'insult' in English. It is largely used to denote a disrespectful or scornful act or statement directed towards another person. In essence, it describes an action that offends or harms the dignity or honour of an individual. Therefore, 'injuria' signifies an act of rudeness or incivility, a derogatory comment or a slight that can potentially hurt someone's feelings or reputation.
Example sentences with injuria →inocente
innocent
The Spanish word 'inocente' translates to 'innocent' in English. This word is an adjective and it can be used to describe someone who is not guilty of a crime or offense, or someone who is simple or naive in nature, just as we use the word 'innocent' in English. For example, in a sentence, 'Él es inocente' means 'He is innocent'. It can also be used in different contexts to express lack of guilt or simplicity.
Example sentences with inocente →inspector (de policía)
inspector (police)
The Spanish word 'inspector (de policía)' translates to 'inspector (police)' in English. It refers to a person who inspects something. In this case, it refers to a police officer of a rank above a sergeant. In other contexts, 'inspector' can also refer to a person who ensures that official regulations or standards are being met in various public or local authority departments.
interrogar a un delincuente
interrogate a criminal
The phrase 'interrogar a un delincuente' in Spanish translates to 'interrogate a criminal' in English. This is typically used in context of law enforcement or legal proceedings, where a suspect, who is believed to have committed a crime, is subjected to questioning to extract information or a confession. This phrase could be used in either informal or formal conversations.
interrogar a un sospechoso
interrogate a suspect
The Spanish phrase 'interrogar a un sospechoso' translates to 'interrogate a suspect' in English. This phrase is typically used in a law enforcement or legal context, where an individual who is suspected of committing a crime is questioned extensively by law enforcement officers or lawyers. The verb 'interrogar' means 'to interrogate', 'a' is a preposition generally used to mean 'to', and 'un sospechoso' translates to 'a suspect'.
interrogatorio
interrogation interrogation
The Spanish word 'interrogatorio' translates into English as 'interrogation'. It is typically used to describe a formal, systematic questioning process, often used by police, military, or intelligence agencies to gather information or elicit a confession from a suspect or a prisoner. It can also apply to any situation where exhaustive questions are asked, such as a job interview or a cross-examination during a legal proceeding.
investigación (policial)
investigation (police)
The Spanish term 'investigación (policial)' translates to 'investigation (police)' in English. This is primarily used in contexts involving law enforcement authorities conducting systematic and official inquiries to discover evidence about criminal acts or incidents. Its usage also extends to any formal examination of facts to uncover truths or establish facts, particularly those associated with potential criminal activities or suspicions. The term 'policial' that tags along implies that the investigation is specifically conducted by police or law enforcement agencies.
ir a la cárcel
go to jail
The Spanish phrase 'ir a la cárcel' translates to 'go to jail' in English. It is composed of the Spanish verb 'ir' which means 'to go', the definite article 'a la' translates as 'to the' in English, and 'cárcel' is the Spanish noun for 'jail' or 'prison'. Thus put together, 'ir a la cárcel' means 'to go to jail'. You may encounter this phrase in legal contexts, books, movies or when discussing legal issues.
Example sentences with ir a la cárcel →ir de paisano
go from countryman
'Ir de paisano' is a Spanish phrase that does not directly translate to 'go from countryman' in English. It is a colloquial expression often used to describe someone who is not in their usual work uniform or who is in casual dress, especially in the context of police or military personnel. Therefore, you could understand it as 'to be in plain clothes' or 'to be off duty' in English.
juez
Judge
The Spanish word 'juez' translates to 'judge' in English. In the context of a legal system, a judge is a public official appointed or elected to hear and decide legal matters in court. The word can also be used metaphorically to refer to anyone who makes important decisions or judgments. Similarly, 'juez' in Spanish can refer to an official in sports or other competitive activities who determines the outcome based on rules and performance. The word 'juez' is a common term in both legal and everyday contexts, and knowing its meaning can significantly enhance your understanding of Spanish conversations or texts.
Example sentences with juez →juez de lo civil
civil justice
The Spanish term 'juez de lo civil' translates to 'civil justice' in English. It refers to a judge who specializes in civil law, mainly handling cases that involve private disputes between parties - individuals or organizations. These disputes can range from contracts, property ownership, divorce proceedings, family law, and more. In contrast to criminal law, where the state prosecutes an individual, in civil law cases, the plaintiff is usually seeking some type of compensation from the defendant.
Example sentences with juez de lo civil →juez de lo penal
criminal justice
The Spanish term 'juez de lo penal' translates to 'criminal judge' in English. It refers to a judge that presides over criminal cases and is responsible for applying the provisions of criminal law during trials. These types of judges play a crucial role in determining the guilt or innocence of defendants and ensuring that justice is served. The term is commonly used in Spanish-speaking legal contexts and jurisdictions.
Example sentences with juez de lo penal →juez de menores
juvenile judge
The term 'juez de menores' in Spanish refers to a 'juvenile judge' in English. It is a legal term, used to designate a judge who presides over cases that involve persons under the age of majority, usually understood to be 18 years of age in most countries. These cases often involve matters of delinquency, dependency, or other legal issues concerning minors.
Example sentences with juez de menores →juez instructor
investigating judge
The Spanish term 'juez instructor' translates to 'investigating judge' in English. An investigating judge, in legal terminology, refers to a judge who is responsible for conducting investigations into serious crimes. The investigating judge is often responsible for collecting evidence, conducting necessary inquiries, and evaluating whether there is sufficient proof to justify a prosecution and move forward with a court trial. This is a very important role within the legal systems of several Spanish-speaking countries.
Example sentences with juez instructor →juicio
trial
The Spanish word 'juicio' has several meanings in English, one of which is 'trial'. It relates to a formal examination of a case in a court of law. 'Juicio' is a noun, most commonly used in legal contexts. It represents the process where a judge or jury examines the evidence and arguments presented by opposing parties to come to a decision or verdict.
Example sentences with juicio →juicio civil
civil trial
The Spanish term 'juicio civil' translates to 'civil trial' in English. A civil trial is a type of court case that involves two or more parties and usually deals with disputes between individuals that pertain to the definitions of legal rights and responsibilities, as opposed to criminal matters. This can include numerous situations such as personal injury cases, divorce proceedings, property disputes, and more.
Example sentences with juicio civil →